AfriTIn moves one step closer to adding lithium production at Uis
Shares in AfriTin Mining Ltd (AIM:ATM, OTC:AFTTF) were up by more than 10% in early trade this morning, after the company released the results of metallurgical test work that indicated that lithium might be produced as a by-product from ongoing production at its Uis tin mine in Namibia.
A high-purity petalite lithium concentrate grading up to 94% was produced from bulk ore samples by independent test facilities.
Accordingly, AfriTin expects the concentrate to meet demand from premium glass and ceramics manufacturers, and to be suitable feedstock for battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide converters.
A contractor has now been appointed for the design and construction of a lithium pilot processing plant at the Uis mine.
"We are pleased to announce the results from the first phase of lithium test work for the Uis mine, showing the potential for producing a high-quality petalite lithium concentrate from our lithium mineral resource,” said AfriTin chief executive Anthony Viljoen.
“The lithium resource is contained within the currently mined ore body, and the lithium concentrate will be a by-product to our existing tin concentrate. These positive test results allow us to progress to the design and construction of a lithium pilot plant at Uis.”
Petalite can be converted to beta-spodumene through roasting, rendering it suitable for lithium processing methods employed by spodumene converters. Several potential offtakers in the lithium conversion industry have expressed interest in the company's expected lithium by-product.
The next phase of lithium test work will optimise flotation operating parameters and will involve the existing and two additional test work service providers, Nagrom (Australia) and ANZAPLAN (Germany). A large bulk sample of 11 tonnes has already been collected for treatment at Nagrom's test facility in Australia to produce lithium petalite concentrate product samples for distribution to potential off-takers.
AfriTin shares rose as much as 11.3% to 7.85p in early trade.